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THE VOICE OP FREEDOM.(Concluded from first page.States with surety.” and Jingua and his comrades are bound over formurder on the high seas.I have read an ingenious Bird well written orti cle in the Evening Post signed Veto, in which the learned writer presents a pretty full examination of the case of the schooner Amistad. He says that it seems but tno probable that the slaveholders Messrs. Ruiz and Montez, conscious of the invalidity of their claim in the civil courts, have drawn this criminal prosecution, (the clmtge of murder) to give time to their government to make a demand : and he rather singularly snys, “ this raises a far more difficult question. If Veto will turn to Niles' Register for 1923, he will find an elegantly written and very able opinion of Chief Justice Tilgham, of Pa. on this subject, in which that eminent jurist, in giving his own judgment against the claim of a foreign government in the ense of n fugitive chnrged with treason or murder where there exists no treaty stipulation, as thereand if they do bad the evil one will get them. On being nsked where God was, he pointed upwards.Jingua repeated that ho had left his father mother, wife and three children in Alrica, and Buwle said ho left his mother, three brothers and three sisters at his native place, Badehou. Bowie said it was six or seven days' travel from Mnn-dingo to Gallinas near the sea, and he did not know nnv town named Manding. It is supposed that they came from a place near the sources of the river Niger. When he first saw Jingua ho was at Mann, and the next lime he met him on board the slave brig. The river on whose banks the interpreter was horn is called Moau. It runs through the district where Jingua was born, to the sea. It is sometimes very deep. They stated that they had been in battles, in their own country, using musket.'1, but they had not been kidnappers. I would never take any advantage of of nny one, said Jingua, but would always defend myself. Bowie said his oldest brother was in debt,does not at present between the United Stales and I™1' u ™ as m oeot,Spain refers also to the corroborate opinions of Inml ,lhey «« !m ,0. Pa-V. «• They hnve n° «?«•:authe preceding Presidents of the T Sm.cs * lh™ ^and trade away men instead of an me pictew ^ , hr onev. rhi*v often tmrle nponln nwiiv to thorwith the ewepl^'of the elder Adams, who innl I ™one)’- They often trade people away to the . r,. , __j______ .1 I Spaniards for powder and guns. Bowie said therenot given an opinion) and very clearly and sntis factorilv shows that the government of this country ought not to surrender persons situated as are Jingua and his unfortunnte countrymen, who are, by the act of God, thrown upon these shores to find I trust, that protection and relief of which they had been, probably, forever deprived, had it not been for this remarkable and providential interposition.I remain,very truly, yours,Lewis Tappan.P. S. Sabbath evening. The Rev. H. G. Ludlow prayed for the poor »\fricans this forenoon very feelingly, at the service in hischurch. The outer door of the jail was closed to-day and visi tors generally were not admitted. 1 distributed some religious tracts, in the morning, to the convicts, and attempted to instruct the African prisoners, especially the children. They pronounce words in English very distinctly, and have already nearly learned the numerals. On showing them some books containing pictures of tropical animals, birds, c., they seemed much pleased to recognize those with whose appearance they have been acquainted, and endeavored to imitate their voices and actions. With suitable instruction these intelligent and docile Africans would soon learn to read and speak our language, and I cannot but hope that some of the benevolent inhabitants of this city will diligently continue to improve the opportunity to impart instruction to these pagans, brought by the providence of God to their very deors. Towards evening tve made a visit to Jingua, nnd conversed with him a considerable time. lie drew his hand across his throat, as his room mates said )ie had done frequently before, a$ked whether the peoplo here intended to kill him. Ho was assured that probably no harm would happen to him—that we were his friends— and that after a while he would be sent home to his friends, across the ocean towards the rising sun. His conntcnance immediately lost the anxious and distressed' expression it had before, and beamed with joy. He says lie was born about two days travelling from tlie ocean ; that he purchased some goods, and being unable to pay for only two-thirds of the amount, he was seized -by the traders, his own countrymen, nnd sold to king Sharkn for the remaining third. “ I don't teil a bit of a lie about it,” he said, in his own language. He says he left in Africa both his parents, a wife nud (lireo children. Two of the children, he remarked, are a little larger than the African girls who are prisoners, and the other about as large. He must be therefore somewhere about 30 years of age. We endeavored to ascertain what his ideas were about a Supreme Being, if he had any. He said “ God is good. His countrymen, lie says, know noih ing about reading or writing. To-morrow we expect to have him taken out of his cell, nnd exnmin ed, through the interpreter, by Messrs Staples and Baldwin. L. Twas great slavery in Gallinas. [This is the place where Don Blanco, the grenlo slave trader, pursues his hellish business.] They staled that they were brought down the country to the sea const nnd were chained when put on board the slaver, which was a brig. It was crowded with slaves, there being 200 men, 300 women ,and plenty of children. Jingua here got down on the floor to show us how they were stowed on board: he moved about on his knees, and as he rose put his hands on the top of his head, to indicate how low the deck was. They said their sufferings were great on the passage, and several of their number had died.They stated that they were nearly two months in going to I favana. There they were put ashore, at the city, in the riiglu, and ironed hand and foot. Besides this every two were chained together at the wrist and by the neck. When they were put on hourd the Amistud it was in the evening, nnd they sailed about midnight. Their irons were then taken off. Some slept below, nnd the rest on deck. Two of the Spaniards on hoard were armed with muskets. The captain of the schooner was very cruel; he beat them on the head very hard with any thing he could catch, and lie kept them almost starved. [The fact stated in the examination before Judge Judson. that the captainought to quell their rising by ord’ring the cabin boy buiscnii amontr them, seems to confirmPrivate Examination of Cinquez, ai.ias Jingua.This morning I went into the hospital department of the prison with Dr. Hooker. Five or six are sick with the white flux, or diarrhoea, peculiar to warm climates—one or two of them dangerously, as the physician thinks, who, through the interpreter, conversed, for the first time, with his patients.—Some of the sick are convalescing. The Joctor snys he has seldom had patients who showed so much gratitude when relieved by medi-One of the the sick men, named Jooah,writes in some unknown language, which does not appear to be Arabic. They said they were forced to drink n great deal of saltwater, on board the slaver, and it had made them sick. Dr. Hooker brought them woollen socks, nnd administered medicine, which they took very readily. It seems a providential circumstance that these men were thrown upon the American coast near here, and that they were brought to this city. Where could they hnve been belter situated ? Th« doctorask-ed the Congo if he should not pull out his two tusk liko teeth, and he said, no, no, evidently prizing thorn very much. This man has been described in some of the papers as a man-eater, and almost a monster is his appearance, but he is neither.Between nine and ten o’clock, a private exam ination of Cinques (or as it should be spelled Jin gua) and one of his comrades named Bowie, took place in n room in the jailor's house. There were present R. T. Baldwin. Esq., Norris Wilcox, Esq., Marshal of the District, Seth P. Staples, Esq. Professors Olmsted and Gibbs, Rev. Messers. Bacon and Ludlow. Anthony,the black boy, who only spoko the Spanish language, the native African interpreter nnd myself. Cinquez (or rnthcr Jingua) and Bowie are natives of the same tribe, the Man-dingo, but as the latter can speak the Gallinas dialect better than the former, the interpreter, who, though neither a Mandingo nor a Galina, but a Kiss, (which was incorrectly spelled in n previous communication Geeshee) found it easier to con verse with Jingua by the aid of Bowie, who translated, the Galinas-to him in Mandingo._ We endeavored to impress upon their minds, in the first place, that we were their friends, and that they must speak the truth. Both of them nppcaed to hnve some ideas of the good Spirit, nnd nlso ofnn At/il Snirif Thpu ftnifl. “finrl (rnrwl niiJan evil Spirit. They snid, “ God is good,” and if they told lies, the evil spirit would take them somewhere, they did not know where. Jingua had been asked if he did not know that God would punish him if he did not speak the truth, nnd lie replied, yes, and added in his owu Inngnnge, me tell no lie—me tell the truth. Jingun snid bo knew if they did good they would go to God.to throwthis.] They say there was no persons on board the schooner beside themselves and comrades, nnd the captain, the two Spaniards, the cabin boy, the cook, and two men who acted as guard. Tlie cook was a mulatto, and the cabin boy is a negroe. Jingua and Bowie both said they were down in the hold, nnd did not see the fight.Antonio, who can speak only in the Spanish language, which the African interpreter well underfunds, snid he was rnthcr over fourteen years of age, that he was bom at Havana and had been a servant to the cuptain of the Ami stnd. He had been attached to that vessel three years, during which time she had made regular trips from Havana to Principe, with slaves. [N Wilcox, Esq., the marshal, here said the schooner could not lie American built, as she was very different from vessels built itr this country for the slave trade. She is only about 75 or 80 tons bur den, and Iter decks are made of mahogany. From another source lonrnd that, wherever built, she evidently intended for a slaver, having ten sweeps, five on a side, nnd a very large hatchway Her cargo was worth about 88000. The negroes left the hatches off during all weathers, and some of the goods were much damaged, so that the cargo will not probably bring over #5000. The money which the negroes had, belonging to the captain. lias gone into the possession of the Spaniards and Lieut. Gedney. It will probably be proved that one of the Spaniards had said in this country that ho broght the slaves from a slave ship, on speculation.] Antonio said the brig that brought the negroes from Africa was under the Portuguese flag, nnd was called La Fnoorn. They were put on board the Amiatcad, and she sailed from Ha vaim in the night because the English mcn-of-war were lying in the harbor. The quarrel look place when they had been about two days from Havana ; the beginning of it was the cook's fault, who told the Africans that they were going to carry them where they would Kill nnd eat all of them. Before that night they were treated badly. *ut that night they fought fair. No African was killed, hut all that were killed were on the other side. Antonin said that Jingua did not kill anybody.Jingua appeared to ho highly gratified to be taken from bis cell, nnd to have the opportunity to look at the public buildings, and the beautiful park, for the first time, from the windows of the chamber. When he entered the room his bearing was like another Othello. He seemed, at first, under some apprehension, but. after a while, appeared to be well aware that he was interrogated by persons friendly to him. He told his story in an animated manner, nnd when Antonio was mak-his stntmcnt, he watched his countenance with deep interest. Occasionally he would stop and shake hands with the interpreter, nnd laugh very heartily. When removed from the chamber, he was allowed to visit his countrymen. They shouted for joy, on seeing him, called him ' nmssn,' nnd every one of them immcdiatly, of their own accord, gave into his hands all the money, Jcc., they hnd received from the visitors. He look it, butthe head of one olthom, to examine it phrenologi-cally, when the young man burst into a loud laugh saying, “ it is a very poor head. Some of them are not only cheerful, but merry, and show much agility, wit and shrewdness. Jingua is generally grave and thoughtful, but his countenance is occasionally lighted up, when the expression is very prepossessing, indicating much natural benevolence of heart.The curiosity to see the prisoners appears to be unabated. Most of the visitors express much sympathy with these much abused strangers, and utter sentiments of strong indignation against those who have torn them from their native land, or meditated their enslavement. But there are a few persons, even in Connecticut, who unblushingly aver that these Africans are net men, that it is ight to enslave them, and that they will unquestionably be given up by our government. It remains to be seen whether a Grand Jurv can be found in die land of Roger Sherman to find a bill of indictment against these victims of cupidity, or npetty jury to find them guilty of crime, or whether the Judges will pronounce that they have violated Ameiican law, or the executive attempt to surrender them to a foreign power. The wise Sc good throughout Christendom will watch our proceedings ; and the result be it what it may, will materially aflect the character of this nation both with contemporaries and posterity.We four.d, during the investigation, that the jrisoners speak at least six dialects, thnt the Galina dialect is the Vev or Tey, nnd that one or more speak the Susoo. In addition to the works already requested, any person having the following hooks will confer a great favor on the Committee by loaning them, or informing where they can lie procured immediately : “ A Grammar Vocabulary of the Susoo langunge, Edin. 1802, 8vo. A Spelling Book for the Susoos, 1802, Svo.” Travels through Central Africa to Tim-buctoo, by Bene Caillie, 2 vole, 8 vo. 1830, in French or English.If there are native Africans in this citv, or elsewhere in this country, who were born near the sources of the river Niger, or in Mandingo, or who can converse readily in the Susoo, Kissi, Mandingo, Banburra.or Gallinas dialects, they will confer a great favor by calling, or sending word to the un-lersigned, for the Committee, at No. 143 Nassau Street, New York City. A native Mandingo would be the best interpreter. The Committee will gratefully receive donations, however small, to enable them to employ able and sufficient counsel, and defray the other expenses attending the trial, nnd they trust that their appeal will be responded to by their fellow citizens.Very truly yours,Lewis Tape an.Long Island Sound, Sept. 10th, 1S39.—Eman.before he reached bis cell, he suddenly handed the money to his brother, who is one of the prisonersthinking, probably, and justly enough, too, that it would not be very sale when he should return to the convicts with whom he was incarcerated.One of tho men attached to the prison was the occasion of great amusement on the part of the prisoners, as well as the spectators, by taking a large lump of ice to show these strangers from the tropics. They nil handled it in turn, hut each one, after hold ing it a moment, screamed out as if their hands hnd been burned, nnd entreated the man to take it out of their hands. They would then look at their hands to see if the skin was nil', examine very closely the novelty, then tnste of the water on their hands, then touch the ice with their tongues, or take a small piece in their mouths.— As the ice was passing round, they laughed immoderately at the momentary agony of their comrades.One of the physicians qf the city , who happened to be atjthe prison, and who expressed his suFrom the New York American.Schooner Amistnd.The questions arising from the capture of thisssel are assuming a degree of importance that seems to demand some notice of them from the press.Under first representations or impressions, that the revolted crew were legally held as s/aces, and that, being such, they had risen and murdered the master nnd crew of the vessel, it seemed to 1* n pretty general opinion, thnt a demand for them would be made by the Spanish authorities, to which this Government could not do otherwise than accede. For, inasmuch as our awn laws roc ngnizc property in slaves, and consequently punish crime con milled by them, even for the recovery of their liberty, it does not appear how we could avoid recognizing the right of another nation to consider and treat Slaves, and their crimes, after the same fashion.But'ii would now seem, from the admissions of the white survivors of the Amistad, that the blacks on board were not slates, even by the Spanish Inws g—but, on the contrary, had been feloniously taken away from their own country, Africa, nnd in vio-hiiion of the Spanish laws, as well as the laws ol Heaven, had been surreptitiously landed in Cuba, and there held in duress till they could be sold as Slaves.If at any period before their being landed in Cuba, the vessel having them on board had been fallen in with by a British or Spanish cruiser, they who arc now held by the authorities of this Republic ns pirates, would have been considered injured freemen, nnd the whites who hnd stolen them would have been hanged as pirates.In likemnnner after their landing in Cuba, if the laws of Spain had been enforced, these blacks could not hnve been treated or sold as Slaves— and their captors who smuggled them on shore, must have been treated as felons.If this be, ns we apprehend it is, a true statement of the case, the next and pregnant inquiry is whether the net of purchnse by Signor Jose Ruiz, of men thus illegally transported to Culm, could alter their condition, and, from much wronged Sc injured freemen, convert them into hopeless slaves? Tiie answer to this innuiry does not seem doubt ful or difficult; and then, if, ns is inevitable, it must be resolved in tho negative, the light into which we arc to regard the block men of the Am islad, who, to recover their freedom, destroyed their oppressors, may be safely ascertained, we think by supposing, as a writer in the Boston Courier has done, in this case. If, instead of Africans, the revolters of tho Amistad were Englishmen, f, instead of a Spaniard the master of the vessel had been an Algerine, and tlie Amistad had been brought into a port of the United States, the Englishmen have risen upon the Algerine, put him to death nnd recovered their liberty—wliat would have been their reception in a country born of Revolution, nnd where life, liberty a nil the pursuits of hnppinness, are declared to be the equal and innl-enahle rights of all men ?Would the ringleader have been thrown into rons, and held as a pirate, or have been welcomed as a hero, and carrcssedas worthy, even in a land of freeman, of particular honor, for thnt he preferred the chance of death to the prospect of slavery ?Wo leave our renders to make such answers to these questions as their own hearts and judgments will sanction.prise to find that the prisoners, as a body, were ns well formed, and appeared quite ns intelligentan equal number of colored persons in New Haven, or any other part of this country, took hold ofFrom tho Emancipator.Colonization Swnggering.Mr. Leavitt,—Sir, I notice in the lust Emancipator, you copy an article from the Hartford Cour-nnt, which is going the rounds of the papers, puffing the liberality of Hon. Thos. W. Williams and others, citizens of New London and vicinity, for contributions made to the Colonization Society, during the recent visit of Mr. Cresson to that place, and stating the amount given to be $4600. Now, notwithstanding the above statement, calculated to mislead the public, has been subtantially made three successive weeks in the New London Gazette, the truth is I believe, that FOUR HUNDRED AND SIXTY DOLLARS only were raised, leaving the oth.er nine-tenths to be collected during the nine coming years in annual in-tstalments, dependent necessarily on these three conlingenccies; the continuancof the life, ability, and disposition ol the subscriber during that period ; at least such was the fact with regard to the donations from New London, which constituted the greater amount.Aurora Borealis.—On Tuesday evening was a brilliant display of Aurora Borealis, extending at limes over the whole heavens, but chiefly in streims of light from the zenith to the east and west: It had at times the appearance of a brightveil extending across the skv. and rapidly changing its form, and varying its hue front a deep purple red, to a brilliant white. The light was occasionally almost equol to that of a bright moon light. The northern portion of the heavens was that in which there was the least light.—It began at about a quarter past 8, and was most brilliant at nbout 9 o’clock.During yestarday afternoon a very distinctly marked mirage was observed in the habour. Vessels of which only the sails could be seen in tho distance, were represented by n distant image inverted above the ltorison exhibiting’not only the sails but the hull. In some instances images were seen apparently of vessels beyond the reach of direct vision.—Boston Patriot.The Anti-Slavery Almanac for 1S40 is out nnd ready for dispersion. Our townsman Mr. Boid hns them for sale, and the State Society Committee are about sending agents abroad to supply, with him the people of the entire stale. We give no discription of the almanac. It speaks over-poweringly for itself, when it is inspected. It pours upon the old dragon system like a hnil storm or rather like a volley of-red hotshot such ns old Admiral Elliot fired from the fortress of Gibraltar upon the Spanish fleet. Let all who have n groat lay it out for an almanac, buy this, rather than the miserable caricatures, that are going round under tho names of comic and “ Davy Crockett”. Our people ought to be ashamed to buy or sell these despicable •' pictorials”.—Herald of Free-CUTLEK JOIIIYSOIV,SADDLE, HARNESSAND TRUNKState Street, (Opposite the Bank,) Montpelier, Vt.MILITARY GOODS.JUST received from New York, by It. It. MITER,Slate street, opposite tbo Bank, a large Assortment of MILITARY GOODS, suitable for the present regulation of the Militia of thia Slate. Terms—Cash.May 6th, 1839. 19:tfMILITARY STAFF UNIFORM!MADE up aaccording the present mode, established for the Militia of thia State, by R. R. RIKER,May, 1639.AXES! AXES!! 'WM. T. BURNHAM would aay to the public, that he has on hand a quantity of FIRST RATE AXES, ground and polished, which he will sell cheap the cheapest, or eichange for old axe polea.(Cp* Shop nearly opposite the State iiouec.CjAl)DI.ERY, Hard Ware, Neal’s Oil, Patent I-eather be. for sale by CUTLER k JOHNSONMontpeler, April 27tb, 183ANTI-SLAVERY ALMANACS,FOR 1840 for aale at thia Office.Meanwhile, will some jurist among our friends inform us, and, through our columns, many other persons who are in doubt on the subject, by what authority and for what special offence, tho black men of the Amistad are detained in custody of the United States Marshal ? And whether any United States Court can have jurisdiction in the case, even if the crime hnd been committed ?We ask sincerely for wo want the information.THE VOICE OF FREEDOMl« published every Saturday morning, at $2 a year, payable in advance. If payment be delayed till the end of. the year, Fifty Centa will bo added.Advertisements inserted at tho usual rates.Subscriptions, and all letters relating tobusinesa, should he addressed to the Publisher : letters relating to the editorial department, to tho Editor. Communications intended for publioation should be signed by iho proper name of the writer. |CP Postage mtist he paid in all eases.Agents of tho Vormonl Anti-Slavery Society, and offioorr of loeal anti-slavery societies throughout the state, are authorized to act as agents for this paper.It^p Office, ono door Weal from the Post-Office, State atAGENTSRrandon, Dr llale.Jamaica, L Merrifield, Esq. Hubbardton, WC Denison, JVorwich, Sylvester Morris. Hartford, Geo. Udall, Esq. Tunbridge, Hervey Tracy. Strafford, W Sanborn, Esq Barnet, I. P Parks, Esq.Morrisvillc, LP Poland, Esq Cornwall, B F Haskell. Craflsbury, VV J Hastings. Westford, R Farnsworth. Essex, Dr J W Emery. Uundcrhilt, Rev E B Baxter. Barnard, Rev T Gordon. East Barnard, W Leonard, Walden, Parley Foster. Starksboro', Jool Battcv.SI. Jllbans, E L Jones, Esq. Rutland, R R Thrall, Esq. Royalton, Bela Hall, C C Carter.Danville, M Carpenter. Glover, Dr Bates.St, Johntbury, Rev J Morae. MiJdltbury, M D Gordon. Cambridge, Martin Wiros. Rrisll, Joseph Otis. Hinesburgh, John Allen. Berkshire, Rtr. Mr. Gleed.Derby, Dr Richmond. Perkinsvillt, W M Guilford Brookfield, D Kingsbury F.st Randolph, C Carpenter, Eaq East Bethel, E Fowler, Esq. H~alerbury, L Hutchins,Esq E S Newcomb.Waitsficld, Col Skinner. -Morelown. Moans SpolTord. Warren, F A Wright, Eaq. Waterford, R C Benton,Esq East Hoxbury, S Ruggles. Frrrisburgh, R T Robinson. Tergcnnrs, J E Roberts. Westfield, O Winslow, Eaq. Cirrinth, Inaley Dow. Wilhamstoivn, J C Farnam. Chester, J Stodman, Eaq.in, Goo S Gale* Waterville, Moses Fisk, Esq. Hydepark, Jothara Wilson. Elmore, Abel Camp, Hintsburgh, W Dean. Burlington, G A Allen. Montgomery, J Martin. Lincoln, Beni Tabor. Calais, Rev. Beni Page. Sudbury, W A Williams. Porpfret, Nathtn Snow. /oAnsim, Elder Byington.
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Brandon Voice of Freedom
Brandon, Vermont, US
Sat, Sep 21, 1839
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USA 10 Jul 2024
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